England's last shot at semifinal berth   

Betting Odds

Our Predictions 

• Joe Root has odds of 4.19 to be the best batsman for England.  
• Kusal Mendis has odds of 4.33 to be Sri Lanka's best batsman. 
• Adil Rashid has odds of 4.27 to be England's best bowler.  
• Dunith Wellalage has odds of 3.71 to be the best bowler for Sri Lanka.  

MATCH PREVIEW     

It is a must-win game for the defending champions, England, as they take on Sri Lanka in the 25th game of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. They have won only once in the tournament, against what most cricket betting tips had suggested. They come into this game with a massive loss against South Africa. A loss in this game will end all their hopes of making it to the semifinal. The Sri Lankans are also in a similar situation, with a solitary win in the tournament. They defeated the Netherlands in the last game and must win here to keep hopes alive. It will be a high-stakes game, and we expect a good contest.   

England Preview     

Betting apps saw Jos Buttler's side as one of the top contenders for the title at the start of the tournament. However, it has been a miserable show for the side so far. They suffered a crushing loss against South Africa, going down by 229 runs. They are at the bottom of the points table and must pull out their best performance. Their opponents are struggling, and the English side will fancy a chance here.  

Dawid Malan has done well, and the side will need him to do well at the top with Jonny Bairstow, whose form is a concern. Joe Root is a vital player in the middle order, and he must add runs with Ben Stones and Harry Brook. Jos Buttler must do the big-hitting in the lower middle order with David Willey and Sam Curran.  

The bowling attack has struggled with its form in this tournament, and the side will need a good spell from Sam Curran and David Willey with the new ball. Adil Rashid must use the conditions well in the middle overs with Gus Atkinson and Mark Wood. Joe Root and Ben Stokes must deliver the goods in the supporting role for the side to win this game.  

Expected Starting XI for England     

Jos Buttler (c & wk), Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c & wk), David Willey, Adil Rashid, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, Sam Curran 

Sri Lanka Preview     

Dasun Shanaka's side tasted victory for the first time in the tournament as they defeated the Netherlands by five wickets in the last game. The side has been inconsistent since the start of the tournament. Their bowlers haven't been able to trouble the batters. The odds are stacked against them, and the side must be at its best to defeat the English side.  

Pathum Nissanka has played well in the last couple of games and will look to deliver a positive start in this game with Kusal Perera. Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, and Charith Asalanka have made runs in the middle order, and they must do well in this game. The side will also expect quick runs in the lower middle order from Dhananjaya de Silva and Dushan Hemantha.  

The bowling attack has let the side down in a couple of games, and they have to be on the money for the side to win this game. Dilshan Madushanka and Kasun Rajitha did well in the last game and must strike early to put the English side under pressure. Maheesh Theekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, de Silva, and Dunith Wellalage would look to bowl tight spells to win this game.  

Expected Starting XI for Sri Lanka     

Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka 

TOSS: To Bat First      

It is an excellent venue for the batters. The small size of the ground allows the sides to post big totals and defend them like we saw in the last game. The side that wins the toss would prefer to bat first and score big on the board.  

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS      

There will be odd clouds over Bengaluru. It is a good batting surface where the ball will come onto the bat nicely and allow batsmen to play their strokes. Bowlers will find it challenging to bowl on this flat track. The side batting first will need more than 325 runs on the board to feel safe on this track.  

OUR PREDICTION      

Sri Lankans have struggled in this tournament against good sides. Bowling is the biggest weakness for the team, and they have to bowl well against England's strong batting line-up. England hasn't found its form in the tournament, but on a man-to-man basis, they are a much stronger side than Sri Lanka. We expect it to be a close game, but the English side has a slight edge, according to our ICC World Cup betting guide.  

Our Prediction is for England to win.